Self-locking insert



Oct. 28,V 1947. STANCUF' i 2,429,778

I SELF-LOCKING INSERT Filed Nov.- 28,l 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS v Oct. 28, 1947. c. L. vsT,\|\\c:l u-'F SELF-LOCKING INSERT Filed Nov. 28, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 2' IN1/Ewan. Cul- TON l.. STANCUFF ATTORNEYS Patenied oct. 28,1947

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Clifton L. Stancliff, Bakersfield, Calif. Application November 28, 1944, Serial No. y565,511

11 Claims. (Cl. 251-167) The present invention relates to improvements in a self-locking insert, and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a selflocking insert,I which is an improvement over the Valve seat patent issued to me on July 11, 1939, No. 2,165,311. In the patent I show the valve seat as being locked inplaceand maintaining a tight seal as the temperature of theseat increases.

In the present invention I showl a self-locking insert which may be used as a valve seat or for other purposes. The device is extremely simple in construction and may be applied to any material where a valve-seat or an insert of a different material is desired. The insert will bind in the recess tightly regardless of temperature increases. In the patent thevalVe-seat is preferably made 'of ,tungsten material known as Stellite In the present invention the selflocking insert may beY made of tungsten or other type of material. i

i In a modified form of the'invention the selflocking means comprises'fa plurality of parallelly arranged members secured to a paper backing. The paper backing is stripped Voir yfrom the members'duringfthe insertioiiof the device inthe engine block or other'pieceof material.

. Other objects and advantages will appear in the following speciflcatiomand the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which: I

Figure 1 is a plan View of the device showing it applied to an engine block or the like;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken along the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the self-locking insert being moved into position;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 but shows the insert in place;

Figure 5 is a plan View of the self-locking member;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a portion of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a top plan View of a modified form of self-locking means used with the insert;

Figure 8 is a front elevation of Figure '7,.a portion of the paper being broken away to show the pins;

Figure 9 shows the paper and pins arranged in a circle;

Figure ,10Y illustrates how the self-locking 2 means is used to secure the insert in place; and

Figure 11 shows a slight modification of insert used.

.While I have shown only the preferred forms of 1 my invention it should be understood that various changes or modications may be made within thescope of the appended claims without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the in- Vention.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a L body member indicated generally at A and this ,Serra body has a bore I therein which may be the bore of a cylinder or the like. The body A has an annular recess 2 formed therein and communicating with the bore I. It will be noted that the lower shoulder 3 of the recess extends at an acute angle with respect to the cylindrical wall 4 of the bore I and that the wall 5 of the recess is inclined'so that its upper corner 6 is placed farther away from the bore axis 'I than the lower corner 8.

The insert B is of the shape shown in Figure 3 and has an annular ring with a lower wall 9 extending at the same angle as the recess wall or shoulder 3. rIfhe inner wall I0 of the ring is of thesame diameter as the bore wall 4'. The insert has an louter wall Il extending at the same angle as the wall 5.

lFigure 3 shows the outer wall II as having an annular groove I2 witha lower portion I2a extending at the same angle as the Wall I I and an upper portion I2b having a surface paralleling the axis l. VTheinsert has an outer upper sur- 'face I3 that lies parallel withV the axis l and has a greater radius than'the wall d. The body A has -a cylindrical surface =I4 having a radius equal to Yat their inner edges vto provide a connecting band Il".A Iheselfdocking means C may be slipped over the lower wall II so that the projections I8 will enterthe upper portion I2b of the groove I2. It will be noted that the corner I9 formed by the wallII and the groove I2 has a radius substantially equal to the radius of the inner surface of the member C, see Figure- 3. This permits the device Ato be readily slipped onto the ring or in- The insert B with the self-locking means C is now moved down into the cylindrical surface I4 and the lower projections 29 will contact with the surface I4. A further downward movement of the insert C will cause the lower rod-like projections 20 to Contact with the inclined wall 5 and to be forced into the lower portion I2@ of the groove. This will flex the lower rod portions 20 inwardly and will tendl to swing the upper rod portions I8 outwardly. As soon as the upper portions I8 pass the shoulder 2I formed at the top of the Wall 5, see Figure 4, the upper rod portions I8 will snap under the shoulder 2l and will contact with the top of the wall '5, The peripheral surface of the groove I2 has two inclined portions that make the surface convex in cross section. This convex surface permits the rod-like projections to swing in the manner disclosed.

When the insert is seated, the self-locking means C will hold the wall' 9 of the insert in contact with the wall 3 rof 'the recess and the wall II of the insert will contact With the wall 5 of the body. The walls I3 and I4 will likewise contactl with each other. The insert cannot be removed when the rod-likeportions I8` once engage with the shoulder 21|. `Theinsert B will expand greater than the body A when the temperature is increased. The greater amount of expansion will take place in a direction radially of the insert and the lesser amount of expansion will take place in a direction axially of the insert. The face 9 will be forced against the face 3 during this movement to make a tightlt. It

is to be understood that the original t of the insert in the body is'such that when the parts are cold there will be sufficient clearance for the insert to expand tightly against the body without being constricted or crushed. Thus the inserty will not become warped or distorted from excessive pressure against the body and will remain tightly .in place irrespective of temperature changes. The member C prevents the insert from moving upwardly during its expansion from heat. n. The angle of the faces 3 and 9 cause the insert to bind tightly in the recess regardless of the temperature changes. I. l

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figures 7 to 10 inclusive. Here the self-locking` similar parts. Pins 22 are arranged parallel to one another and are glued to a paper 23, The paper may be arranged in a circular manner as shown in Figure 9 and will dispose the pins 22 on its inner surface.

In assembling the insertB to the `body A, inv

Figure 10, the pins 22 with the paper `23 are placed in the groove I2 and the insert is forced into the bore I4. The upper edge of the wall I4 will peel the paper from the pins, as shown at 23a but the pins will be moved on down into the f vbroken line 24 Athat does extend at right angles to the wall 5 and shows a second broken line 25 extending atan angle to the line 24 and starting ,i

at the corner 2 Ia of the shoulder. The shoulder 4 2I coincides with the second line 25 and therefore the recess wall 5 will have less height than the entrance to the recess. The pins or projections I8 Will be wedged in place as the upper ends are forced against the inclined shoulder 2 I. A tighter connection between the body A and the insert B is the result. The construction of the shoulder 2I in Figure 11 is the same as that illustrated -in Figures 3 and 4.

The'insert "B vneed not be a ring with a valve seat formed therein. Figure 11 shows a solid insert E that has a reduced portion received in the bore wall 4 and an enlarged portion received in the bore wall 5a. The wall 5a. is cylindrical and parallels the Wall I4 but is of less diameter.

It will further be noted that the Wall 3a. extends 'at'rg'ht angles to the center line 1 and that the wall 9a of the insert E extends at right angles to the wall 5a and abuts the wall 3a when the insert E is in position. The insert E is held tightly in place by the projections I8 wedging against the shoulder'ZI that makes an obtuse angle with the wall 5.

In the form shown'in Figure 3,7the shrinkage of the insert is'ten times inthe direction of the diameter to one in the direction of the axis 1, The angle of the shoulder 2I to -thedwall3 causes the insert wall 9 and thebody wall 3 to bind together. In Figure 11, thewalls 5a and'3a make a angle, but the wedging-of theprojections I8 against the Yshoulder 2I makes a tight fit even though the insertl shrinks with respect to the body due to temperature changes. lThe wall 5a can parallel the wall I4-if desired, as shown in Figure v1 1.Y v l The angle that the shoulder2I `makes with the wall 3 varies according Ato the shrinkage ratio between the outside diameter and the thickness of theinsert. The ratio is ten toone when the outside diameter Vis two V'inches and the thickness three-eights of an inch. Should the outside diameter berincreased to six Yinches'and the thickness of the insert remain the same, the ratio would be thirty to one instead of ten to one. The angle formed between the vshoulder 2I and the wall 3 wouldsbe less pronounced forv this increased ratio. ,This angle causes the insert to remain tight as theinsert contracts 'or-expands due to temperature changes.

The vshoulder 2I always' makes anobtuse angle with the'wall 5 in the form-of thefdevice shown in Figure llvand also in the forms'shown in Figures 2, 31A-and 10. `In other wordsfthe shoulder 2l makes an obtuse angle with the wall 5 whether the wall 3a makes a right angle'with the Vaxis with the bore and having an inclined -peripheral wall with a shoulder at its top, oran insert for the recess having'an annular groove with -an-'inner wall convex in cross section, the lower wall portion paralleling the inclined recess' wall `and the -upper wall portion paralleling the bore axis, a plurality ofv self-locking pinsymea'ns interconnecting the pins for holding them :in parallel relationin the groove, the -lower ends of the pinscontacting with the inclined recessv wall-for ilexingthe pins as the insert is moved into the recess, whereby the Vtops of the pins Willsnap under `the shoul.- der when the insert is seated and prevent the withdrawal of the insert, the bottom of thein- 'sert andl vthe'adjacent wall of Lthe recess being inclined with respect to the bore axis so that an expansion of the insert from heat will cause the two abutting surfaces to bind more tightly.

2. The combination with a body having a bore and an annular recess communicating with the bore, the body having an entrance opening communicating with the recess and being concentric with the bore, said entrance opening being of a larger diameter than the bore, said recess having an inclined peripheral wall with the diameter of the wall portion disposed nearest the entrance opening being larger than the entrance opening diameter for providing a shoulder, of an insert having an outer diameter equal to the entrance opening diameter, the outer periphery of the insert having an annular groove with a peripheral wall convex in orossY section, the upper portion of the groove wall paralleling the entrance opening wall and the lower portion paralleling the conical recess wall, the portion of the insert peripheral wall disposed below the groove being inclined and adapted to contact the inclined recess wall when the insert is seated; a self-locking ringshaped member received in the insert groove and movable into the recess with the insert, said member having longitudinally extending and parallely arranged slots extending inwardly from opposite ends to define aligned projections which are flexed by contacting the conical recess wall as the insert is moved into seating position, the flexing causing the ends of the projections disposed nearest to the entrance opening to snap under the shoulder when the insert is seated, whereby the insert is locked in place, the recess having a bottom wall for limiting the inward movement of the insert intothe recess.

3. The combination with a body having a bore and an annular recess communicating with the bore, the body having an entrance opening communicating with the recess and being concentric with the bore, said entrance opening being of a larger diameter than the bore, said recess having an inclined peripheral wall with the diameter of the wall portion disposed nearest'the entrance opening being larger than the entrance opening y diameter for providing a shoulder, of an insert having an outer diameter equal to the entrance opening diameter, the outer periphery of the in- -sert having an annular groove with a peripheral wall convex in cross section, the upper portion of the groove wall paralleling the entrance opening wall and the lower portion paralleling the conical recess wall, the portion of the insert peripheral wall disposed below the groove being inclined and adapted to Contact the inclined recess wall when the insert is seated, a self-locking ringshaped member received in the insert groove and movable into the recess with the insert, said member having longitudinally extending and parallelly arranged slots extending inwardly from opposite ends to define aligned projections which areflexed by contacting the conical recess wall as the insert is moved into seating position, the exing causing the ends of the projections disposed nearest to the entrance opening to snap under the shoulder when the insert is seated, whereby the insert is locked in place, the recess having a bottom wall for limiting the inward movement of the insert into the recess, the bottom recess wall being inclined for making an obtuse angle with the bore axis, said insert having a bottom wall similarly inclined and adapted to contact with the recess bottom wall when the Y insert is locked in place, the insert bottom wall making a tighter binding contact with the bot-4 tom recess wall when the temperature is increased. 4. The combination with a body having a bore `and an annular recess communicating with the bore, the body having an entrance opening communicating with the recess and being concentric with the bore, said entrance opening being of a larger diameter than the bore, said recess having an inclined peripheral wall with the diameter of the wall portion disposed nearest the entrance opening being larger than the entrance opening diameter for providing a shoulder, of an insert having an outer diameter equal to the entrance opening diameter, the outer periphery of the insert having an annular groove with a peripheral wall convex in cross section, the upper portion of the groove wall paralleling the entrance opening wall and the lower portion paralleling the conical recess wall, the portion of the insert peripheral wall disposed below the groove being inclined and adapted to contact the inclined recess wall when the insert is seated, a self-locking member having parallel pins held in place by a flexible ring, said member being received in the insert groove and movable into the recess with the insert, said ring being torn from the pins by contacting with the entrance opening wall and said pins being flexed by contacting with the conical recess wall as the insert is moved into seating position, the flexing causing the pins to snap under the shoulders when the insert is seated, whereby the insert is locked in plac, the recess having a bottom wall for limiting the inward movement of the insert into the recess.

5. .The combination with a body having a bore and an annular recess communicating with the bore, the body having an entrance opening communicating with the recess and being concentric with the bore, said entrance opening being of a larger diameter than the bore, said recess having an inclined peripheral wall with the diameter of the wall portion disposed nearest the entrance opening being larger than the entrance opening diameter for providing a shoulder, of an insert having an outer diameter equal to the entrance opening diameter, the outer periphery of the insert having an annular groove with a peripheral wall convex in cross section, the upper portion of the groove wall paralleling the entrance opening wall and the lower portion paralleling the conical recess wall, the portion of the insert periphn eral wall disposed below the groove being inclined andadapted to Contact the inclined recess wall when the insert is seated, a self-locking member received in the insert groove and movable into the recess with the insert, said member being ringshaped and having longitudinally and inwardly extending slots from both ends of the ring to form upper and lower rows of projections interconnected by a central band, the lower row of projections being flexed by contacting with the conical recess wall as the insert is moved into seating position, the exing causing the upper row of projections to snap under the shoulder when the insert is seated, whereby the insert is locked in place, the recess having a bottom wall for limting the inward movement of the insert into the recess.

6. The combination with a body having a bore and an annular recess communicating with the bore, the body having an entrance opening communicating with the recess and concentric with the bore, said entrance opening being of a larger diameter than the bore, said recess having an inclined peripheral wall with the diameter of the wall portion disposed nearest the entrance opening being larger than the entrance opening dialneter for proVidingLashoulder, of ,an linsert having an outer diameter equal togthe aentrance opening diameter, the insert;outer periphery having an annular groove witha peripheral'walllconvex in cross section, the upper portion of ,the :n

groove wall paralleling the entrance openingwall and being of a smaller diameter, and the lower vportion of the groove wall iparalleling `,the conical recess wall and being :of a smaller diameter,

the portion of the insert peripheral ywall A.disposed below the groove being inclined and `adapted .to contact the inclined recess -wall when the insert is seated, a, self-locking ring-.shaped-member vhaving longitudinal slots extending :inwardly from both ends of the member to lforrn'upperand lower rows of projections interconnected by a central band, theupper row of projections being received in the space provided at the -top of the insert groove, the lower row of projections being iiexed inwardly by contacting with the rconical recess wall as the insert is moved into seating position, the flexing causing the upper projectionstosnap under the shoulder for locking the `insert in iplace. 7. The'combination with a body having a bore andan annular recess communicating with vthe bore, the body having an entrance opening communicating with the recess and concentric with the bore, said entrance opening beingof Ia larger .diameter than the bore, said recess having van inclined peripheral wall with the diameter of the wall portion disposed nearest the entrance 4opening being larger than theentrance opening diameter for providing a shoulder, of arr'insert having an outer diameter equal to the entrance opening diameter, the insert outer periphery having an annular groove with a peripheral Awall convex in cross section, the upper portion of thegroove wall paralleling the entrance opening wall and being of a smaller diameter, andthe lower-portion of the roove wall paralleling the conical recess wall and being of a smaller diameter, the portion of the insert peripheral wall disposed below the groove being inclined vand adapted to contact the ,-inclined recess wall when the insert is seated, a self-locking ring-shaped member having longitudinal slots extending inwardly from both ends of the member to form upper and lower rows of contacting with the conical recess wall `as .the

insert is moved into seating position, ithe .flexing causing the upper projections to'snap under the shoulder for locking `the insert Yin place, said insert having a bottom wall and the -recess having a cooperating wall adapted to make a tight :contact when the insert is seated. Y'

8. The combination with a body havinga :bore and an annular recess communicating fwith the bore, the body having an entrance openingcommunicating with the recess and zconcentricrwith the bore, said entrance opening being of a larger diameter than the bore, said recess having aninclined peripheral wall with the diameter of ,the wall portion disposed nearest the entrance open ingjbeing larger than the entrance-openingdiameter for providing a shoulder, oi an-insert .having an Aouter diameter equal to the entrance .opening diameter, the insert outer .periphery having an annular groove with a peripheral wall convex in cross section, the upper portion oi the groove wall paralleling the entrance opening wall and` being of a. smaller diameter, and the lower portion of the-groove wall paralleling-the conical "recessfwajll and 'being of a ,smaller diameter, 'the "portion of the insert 'peripheral `wall vdisposed below the :groovebeing'inclined vand adapted to contact the inclined kfrecess wallwhen the insertis seated, a

.self-locking .ring-shaped member :having Alongitudinal slotsextending :inwardly `from both ends -of thelmember'to form upper and lower rows of Ader the shoulder for locking the :insert in place, `saidinsert .fhaving .a bottom-.wall and the recess `havinga cooperating wall adapted to make .a tight contact'when the insert `is seated, said `lastnamed contacting .wall extending at yan acute angle to the conical 'recess wall for causing vthe -walls1sto remain `lin tight .contact .regardless of temperature changes.

`9. The combination with abody having a shoulderedfboreftherein andan annular recess communicating -withthebore at a spaced .distance above the. shoulder, .the shoulder extending Aat right angles tothe bore aXis,1of.an insert for the 'recess and having a yshoulder for vcontacting with 'said first-,namelzl shoulder, said insert fhaving an annular recess, said first ,andV second-named recesses l,having opposed shoulders, self-locking means .engageable with the recess shoulders for securing `the insert ,in place, said'rst-named re- -cess .shoulder :making an .obtuse .angle with the circular wall of the vsame recess, whereby said self-locking means is vwedged lagainst the firstnamed recess shoulder lfor securing the insert tightly `in position.

210. The .combination with a body Vhaving a bore vtherein and an annular recess communicating with the.;bor.e,fof acircular insert for the recess, the recess having an end face for contacting with alface on'the insertior limiting the inward movement ofthe insert into the recess, the Peripheral Ywallof the recess vhaving an annular groove whose shoulder opposing the first-named shoulder, the

yremaining circumferential portion of the inner second 'annular `groove wall :paralleling `the outer periphery of the insert, 4and .a plurality .of longitudinally `extending and kparallelly arranged lockving members initially receivable 'in the insert annnular groove and being .swingableby contact with the recess annular groove inner wall when the insert Iis-moved into the recess, for swinging the members so that their ends contact vthe opposed shoulders, the inner wall of ithe recess annular 'groove and -theirst-mentioned circumferential portion of the inner wall of the insert annular wall `contacting-withopposite sides-of the members for holding them'in a'position where the ends of the `members'will continue to contact with the opposed shoulders and retain the insert :tightly in the recess.

il. 'The `combination lwith a body having va bore therein anda recess communicating with'the bore -andhaving an annular shoulder and groove in its peripheral wall, the bore and recess forming a shoulder, an insert `adapted'.tdenter the recess and rest against the second-named shoulder, said insert having an annular groove facing the first groove and a shoulder opposed to the first shoulder, the first shoulder making an obtuse angle with the Wall of its groove, and a locking member having its ends abutting against the first and third mentioned shoulders for holding the insert in place, the insert groove peripheral Wall being convex in cross section with the peripheral portion disposed nearest the insert shoulder holding the locking member against the Wall of the recessed groove, whereby the opposite end of the locking member is held against the first shoulder, the insert groove providing a space for temporarily receiving said opposite locking member end during the insertion of the insert into the recess, the convex groove wall of the insert creating a iiexing tension on the locking member for causing the said opposite end thereof to snap under 10 the rst shoulder as soon as the shoulder is cleared by the seating of the insert against the second-named shoulder.

' CLIFTON L. STANCLIFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

